1. Introduction
2. Pas de deux
3. Scen, Marsch och Scen [Scene, March and Scene]
4. Elfvorna [The Fairies]
5. Scen och Final [Scene and Finale]
- Year of composition: 1871 (according to Sohlmans musiklexikon, [a Swedish dictionary of music and musicians]); '26 December 1870' (according to score, p. 1), '5 February 1871' (according to score, last page)
- Work category: Ballet / Dance music, one act
- First performed: According to Ralf, Klas: "Kungliga Teatern i Stockholm. Repertoar 1773-1973" [The Royal Theatre in Stockholm. Repertiore 1773-1973], Stockholm 1974: The Opera House on 18 February, 1871. Contributors: D. F. C. Hjertzell (Greven [The Count]), G. V. Sandstedt (En rik bonde [A rich farmer]), Mlle Janzon (Hans hustru [His wife]]), M. Westberg (Lise), R. Sjöblom (Edwin), H. Lund f Lindh (Älvdrottningen [The Fairy Queen])
- Arrangement/revision: Instrumentation by C[onrad] Nordqvist (according to Sohlmans musiklexikon [a Swedish dictionary of music and musicians], vol. 3, 1976). "Ballett-Idyll af Theodor Marckhl Musiken af Ivar Hallström och Conrad Nordqvist." [Ballet Idyll by Theodor Marckhl, Music by Ivar Hallström and Conrad Nordqvist] (according to the score).
- Duration: Approx. 30-40 min
- Detailed duration: c. 35' (according to broadcast in SR P2 on 1st October, 2003)
Instrumentation
2*.2.2.2 / 4.2.3**.0 / timp, perc, 2 hp / str
(picc, alto tbn, bass tbn)
perc: bass dr, cymb, trgl
Location for score and part material
Handwritten score and parts can be found in the collections of the Musik- och teaterbiblioteket (Kungl. Teatern, Pantomim-Balett E 8).
Description of work
1. Introduction: (Allegro) Adagio G major 6/8 (varying tempi, keys and time signatures)
2. Pas de deux: Andante E-flat major 3/4 (varying tempi, keys and time signatures)
3. Scen [Scene]: Allegro vivace C major 2/4, March: Allegro moderato A major 2/4
4. Elfvorna [The Fairies]: Andantino B-flat major 6/8 (varying tempi, keys and time signatures)
5. Scen och Final [Scene and Finale]: Allegro - G major 2/4 (varying tempi, keys and time signatures)
Libretto/text
Synopsis:
It is harvest festival in the small French village and formally dressed farmers have gathered for a dance while waiting for the Count. The two lovers, Lise (the richest girl in the village) and Edwin, who is poor, are separated by the rich farmer, who does not think Edwin good enough for Lise. Exhausted by the warmth and in despair over his poverty, Edwin falls asleep on a bench.
In his dream fairies come from all directions and the Fairy Queen, pulling him into the dance, tries to seduce him. As Edwin only thinks of his beloved Lise, the Queen becomed furious and scornfully shows him an approaching couple in love – Lise and the Count. Jealous and furious Edwin lifts his ax towards the count, but instead hits Lise, who has inserted herself between them. The fairies then abruptly disappear. Horrified, Edwin quickly returns to the bench, where he fell asleep.
When he wakes up, he realises that it all was just a bad dream, but yet remembers a treasure the Queen had showed him in a hollow tree. Much to his surprise, Edwin finds the Count's lost jewelry box in the tree, and the Count then gives it to Lise as dowry. The Count also pleads for the couple with Lise's father, and the ballet ends with everyone's cheer and congratulations.